Winding machine



Aug. 14, 1934. A. w. LE BOEUF WINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug; 14', 1934. A. w. LE BOEUF WINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1934- A. w. LE BOEUF 1,970,462.

WINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 14, 1934.

A. W. LE BOEUF WINDING MACHINE Filed Sept 2,

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 WINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l atenterl Aug. 14, 1934 PATENT OFFICE WINDING MACHINE Arthur W. Le Boeuf, Oranston, R. 1., assignor to Universal Winding Company, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 2, 1931, Serial No. 569,839

10 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in winding machines and particularly to machines for winding wire and other conductor to produce electrical coils.

In the following specification and claims the term wire is to be interpreted in a generic sense as designating all kinds of strand material and the term coil to apply to all forms of electrical windings and in certain instances to other types of wound bodies.

One objectof the invention is to provide an automatic machine for simultaneously winding a plurality of coils on a single core or arbor.

Another object of the invention is to provide means incorporated in the winding machine for cutting the coil units apart after the completion of the winding.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the type specified means for automatically arresting the winding operation when the above-mentioned cutting or severing means are thrown into operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine adapted for winding coils with sheetinsulation inserted between the overlying layers of the wire, said sheet-feeding mechanism forming the subject-matter 'of a separate application filed concurrently herewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically arresting the operation of the traversing-means and the sheet-feeding means of the machine upon the actuation of the cutting-off means without arresting the rotation of the winding-spindle, whereby the arbor or mandrel is turned to sever the continuous supporting tube and the strips of paper inserted into the coils to separate the latter into individual units.

Another object of the invention is to provide a winding machine of the type specified which is highly automatic in its operation to avoid the necessity for manual control except at the start and the finish of the winding.

Another object of the invention isto provide a winding machine of simple construction which is accurate and eflicient in operation and proof against derangement of its mechanism.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the invention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the winding machine shown without the paper-feeding means, but illustrating the drive therefor, and also illustrating the adjustable traverse-mechanism in its casing with the front cover thereof removed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine showing the relation of the sheet-feeding means to the winding mechanism proper;

Fig. 3 is a detailed elevational view of the drive end 'of the machine showing the starting and stopping devices for controlling the operation of the winding-spindle and the traverse-mechanism and sheet-feeding'device, the drive for the whole machine being shown as connected in this view;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the stoppingmechanism operative to disconnect the main drive for the machine; I v

Fig. 5 is an enlarged part-sectional end view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the arrangement of the traverse-guides for the wire and the 4 means for controlling their position in relation to the coils being wound and also illustrating a portion of the cutting-off mechanism; 76

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of a portion of the traverse-mechanism, part-sectional, on line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the braking-means for the winding-spindle; 80

Fig. 8 is a. detailed view of the stopping-mechanism for the traversing-means of the machine taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the gearing connections between the spindle-drive and the traverse-mechanism, taken on line 99 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a detailed view of the cam and ratchet-mechanism for operating the sheet-feed ing means of the machine;

Fig. 11 is a detailed view of the gearing connections between the traverse-mechanism of the machine and the sheet-feeding means;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detailed view of the electric switch for controlling the main drive of the machine;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detailed view of the means for altering the ratio of the speed of traverse ofthe wire-guides with respect to the rotative speed of the winding-spindle; automatically operated means for controlling the movement of the wire-guides away from the axis of the winding-spindle concurrently with the increase in diameter of the windings; sheet-feeding means for inserting insulating material between the layers of the coil windings, the construction and arrangement of this part of the machine being covered in a separate application; means for cut ting the coils apart at the completion of the winding operation; means controlled from the cutting-oil! mechanism for arresting the operation of the traverse-mechanism and the sheetfeeding means while continuing the rotation of the winding-spindle; and separate means for arresting the main drive of the machine upon the completion of the coil winding.

For convenience of description and cleamess of explanation the correlated operating elements of the machine will be referred to in groups, it

being understood, however, that the different mechanisms are closely interrelated to cooperate for the purposes mentioned and therefore constitute a complete apparatus in a single machine.

The machine in general comprises a horizontal bed or base 2 supported from legs 3 adapted to rest on the floor. Fixedly mounted at one end of the base 2 is a headstock 4 carrying the journals for the rotatable winding-spindle 5. The spindle 5 is journaled in bearings 6 and 7 at opposite ends of the headstock 4 and may be driven from any suitable source of power such as an electric motor connected directly therewith or through the means of a belt or. gearing. As herein shown, the left-hand end of the spindle 5, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, carries a flanged belt pulley 10 keyed thereto at 11 and secured in place thereon by a set-screw 12. A collar 13, secured to the spindle 5 by a set-screw 14, takes the end thrust of the spindle in one direction while at its opposite end is a handwheel 15 held in place by a set-screw 16 with the end of its hub abutting the end of the bearing 7 to take the thrust in this direction. The pulley 10 is adapted to receive a belt driven from an electric motor arranged below, but not herein shown, or the blcitftmay be connected to be driven from a line s The uflnding-arbon-The inner end of the spindle 5 carries a socketed chuck 1'? having its shank 18 inserted into an axial bore thereof and secured in'place by a tapered pin 19. The end of the winding-mandrel or arbor 20, which may consist of a cylindrical rod or shaft of any suitable diameter, is received within the socket of the chuck 17 and keyed rotatively therewith by means of a cross-pin 21 in the shaft engaging notches 22 in the sides of the chuck. The opposite end of the mandrel or arbor is of tapered or beveled construction to adapt it to seat against a plurality of balls revolvably mounted in .the head of a sliding chuck or bearing 25.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the chuck'25 is in the form of a plunger having its shank 26 telescopically mounted in a bearing 27 on an adjustable tailstock 30. A screw 28 projects axially through the bore of the bearing 27 and is threaded into an axial bore 24 in the chuck 25. A spring 29 coiled around the screw-2'8 within the bore of the bearing 27 tends to force the chuck against the end of the arbor 20, the screw 28 serving to limit the sliding movement of the chuck under the action of the spring. The

bearing 27 is of the split type and provided with lugs 31 at the top, through which extends a screwthreaded stud 32 having a hand-nut 33 secured to its end. By turning the hand-nut 33 the bearing 27 may be tightened to bind the shank 26 of the chuck 25 fixedly in position.

The base or standard of the tailstock is slidable on opposite parallel ways 34 extending longitudinally of the bed 2 and is held in fixed position by means of a T-bolt 35 passing through a clamp 36 on the underside of the ways and tightened in place by a nut 37 on the upper end of the bolt. Through this means the tailstock 30 may be adjusted in position to adapt the machine to receive arbors of different lengths in accordance with the number and length of the coil units to be wound thereon.

The traversing wire-guides.--The means for guiding the wire or other conductor to the mandrel or arbor 20 and traversing it longitudinal thereof to deposit it in helical turns comprises a series of guides, indicated generally at 40, which are adjustable in spaced relationship along a horizontal bar or rod 41. As illustrated most clearly in Figs. 2 and 5, the guides 40 may take the form of T-shaped bifurcated members 42 carrying guide-pulleys 45. The body-portions of the members 42 are split to form jaws 43 whose concaved ends engage around the rod 41. Bolts 44 extending through the split portions of the members 42 serve to clamp the guides fixedly in place in their adjusted relationship along the rod 41. The guides proper are constituted as peripherallygrooved sheaves or pulleys 45 rotatably mounted on the webbed T-portions of the guide-members 42 by means of studs 46 secured in place by nuts 47, see Fig. l.

'The rod 41 is supported at the end of a flat plate 48 inserted into a slot in the rod and secured in place by cross-pins 49, see Fig. 5. The guides 40 are connected to be reciprocated from a crosshead 50 which is slidable along a horizontal rod 51 extending parallel with the axis of the windingspindle 5 and coil-arbor 20. The ends of the rod 51 are fixedly secured in bearing-hubs 52 by means of set-screws 53, the hubs forming a part of upright brackets 54 bolted to the forward side of the bed 2, see Figs. 1 and 2. The upper portion of the crosshead 50 is of bifurcated construction comprising two spaced hubs 55 adapted to enclose a sleeve or bushing 56 which is freely slidable on the rod 51. The hubs 55 are split and have binder-screws 57 inserted through lugs v58. projecting upwardly therefrom, whereby to provide means for clamping the sleeve 56 fixedly within tion with respect to the winding-arbor 20. In

eifect, the two plates 60 and 48 form an arm for the wire-guides arranged to pivot on the axis of the fixed rod 51 whereby to adapt the guidepulleys 45 to swing upwardly away from the axis of the arbor 20 as the winding increases in diameter.

The composite arm formed by the plates 60 and 48 is swiveled on the ends of the sleeve 56, being pivotally connected therewith by means of a pair of bearing-members 63 clamped to the plate 60 by bolts 64, see Figs. '2 and 5. The ends of the bearing-members 63 are curved to engage around the ends of the sleeve 56 in complementary formation to the bifurcated ends of the plate 60 and the clamping'action of the bolts 64 exerts a binding friction on the sleeve whereby to provide a slight resistance to the turning movement of the guide-arm. Due to this arrangement the guide-arm, comprised by the plates 60 and 48,

may be swung upwardly to displace the guide-,

pulleys 45 away from the winding-arbor 20, the arm being frictionally held in its manually adjusted position to convenience the application of the arbor 20 to the chucks 1'7 and 25 or its removal therefrom after the coils are completed. The movement of the guide-arm to cause the guide 40 to recede from the axis of the winding-arbor 20 during the growth in the winding is positively controlled through automatically-operated means as later described.

The lower end of the traverse-slide or crosshead 50 which imparts reciprocating motion to the guides 40 is connected to a horizontal rod or traverse-bar 65 mounted to slide in bearings 66 carried by the upright brackets 54. As shown in Fig. 5, the lower portion of the cross-head 50 is formed with a cylindrical bearing 67 surrounding the traverse-rod 65 with set-screws 68 securing it fixedly thereto. The rod 65 is longitudinally reciprocated in its bearings 66 by means of an improved traverse-mechanism to be later described.

The means for controlling the receding move-' ment of the guides.-It has been stated that the movement of the wire-guides away from the axis of the winding-mandrel or arbor 20 is positively controlled to maintain a close association of the guide-pulleys with the peripheral surface of the coils without contact thereon. For this purpose I provide a novel construction and arrangement of automatically-operated mechanism as next described. A bell-crank lever 70 has its hub pivoted on the sleeve 56 between the hubs 55 of the crosshead 50, see Figs. 1 and 5. One arm '71 of the lever 70 reaches outwardly beneath the arm carrying the thread-guides 40 with a setscrew 72 at its end adapted to engage against the underside of the plate 60 to lift the arm. A checknut 73 on the set-screw 72 provides means for locking the screw in the position to which-it may be adjusted to regulate the initial setting of the guides in relation to the winding-arbor 20 at the start of the winding.

The bell-crank lever '70 has a vertical arm 74 reaching downwardly for engagement with an actuating screw '75 which is threaded through a boss '76 on the front of the crosshead 50. The inner end of the actuating screw 75 carries a washer 77 retained thereon by a spring clip 78 to adapt it to bear against the side of the crosshead when the screw is withdrawn into first position. On the opposite end of the screw 75 is fixedly mounted a ratchet-wheel 80, the teeth of which are adapted to be engaged by a pawl 81 whereby to intermittently turn the ratchet. The turning of the ratchet 80 advances the screw '75 through the crosshead to cause its end to act against the bell-crank lever l0 to gradually lift the arm 60, 48 carrying the wire-guides 40.

The pawl 81 may conveniently be constructed as a wire rod having its outer end offset and fiattened to form a sharpened toe 82 for engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 80. Theopposite end of the pawl 81 is held in a cross-bore 83 in the head of a stud 8a threaded into a, boss on the front of the left-hand bracket 54. The pawl 81 is adapted to rock to the extent necessary to permit it to ride over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 80 by the turning movement of the stud 84 in its threaded bearing. A wire hook 8'? having its end held in a bore in the boss 85 by means of a screw 88 is arranged with its looped end encircling the rod to limit its rocking movement in opposite directions. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that as the crosshead 50 is given a reciprocatory motion from the sliding traverse-bar 65 the pawl-81 will be caused to be engaged intermittently with the teeth on the ratchet 80 to turnthe screw '75 in the manner and for purpose as before indicated. The pawl 81 may be adjusted in its bearing 83 to regulate the extent of its action on the ratchet 80 whereby to regulate the feed of the screw 75 in accordance with requirements of the winding as determined by the size or diameter of the wire; that is, to proportion the rate of movement of the guides 40 with the change in diameter of the coils being wound.

The adjustable traverse-mechanism for the wire-guides.-The traverse-bar 65 for the wireguides 40 is reciprocated from a heart-shaped cam 90 which, with its driving gearing, is contained within a casing 91 bolted to the front of the bed 2 at 92 and 93, see Figs. 2 and 8. The casing 91 preferably has a cover 94 at its front for enclosing the cam and gearing and preventing escape of the lubricant therefor. The heart-cam 90 is loosely mounted on a horizontal shaft 95 which is journaled in a bearing 97 at the rear of the casing 91 and also in another bearing 98 bolted to the rearward side of the bed 2, see Fig. 2. The cam 90 is of skeleton structure with a heartshaped groove or slot 100 in its side for engaging a roll or follower which travels therein to impart reciprocation to the traverse-bar 65. Where the groove 100 of the cam is reversed in direction a resiliently-held plunger 101 has its pointed end forming the side of the groove, thereby providing a yieldable point for the roll or follower to pass over in accordance with a well-known construction. The plunger 101 slides in a slot 102 with acoil spring 103 acting against its end. The plunger 101 is held in place in its slot in the guide-way by a screw 104 passing through a slot in the plunger.

- The hub 105 of the cam 90 is connected to its rim by spokes 106 and 107 and extending between the sides of the rim is an arcuate portion 108 having a slot 109 disposed concentrically with respect to the axis of the hub. The slot 109 is adapted to receive bolts 110 which connect the cam rotatively with a gear 115 from which the cam is driven. The bolts 110 pass through the slot 109 and are threaded into bosses projecting laterally from two of the spokes of the gear 115. The gear 115 is carried on the cam-shaft 95 and secured rotatively therewith by means of a pin 116 in its hub 117.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings, a cross-arm 120 secured fast on the traverse-rod 65 by means of a set-screw 121 in its hub 122 provides means for connecting the rod for reciprocation from the cam 90. The cross-arm 120 is formed on its inner face with a vertical slot 123 adapted to be engaged by a roll 124 on a stud 125. see Fig. 6. The stud 125 is fast in a slide 126 and carries a roll or bowl 127 on its opposite end engaging the cam groove 100. The slide 126 is constructed in two complement y Dar s having flanges adapted to form opposite grooves 128 for receiving the opposite sides of a slotted track-arm 130 to be later described. The two complementary parts of the slide 126 are formed with alining holes for the stud 125 and a counterbored recess 131 in one of the parts receives an enlargement 132 on the stud to secure the latter in place on the slide.

The arm 130, see Figs. 1 and 2, is pivoted at its lower end on the reduced end of the camshaft 95 and secured in place by a headed stud 133 screwed into the end of the shaft. The trackarm 130 is adapted to pivot on the axis of the cam 90 to adjust its outer end along a fixed quadrant 135 whereby to define the path of the slide 126 as it is oscillated from the cam 90. The angular adjustment of the arm 130 with respect to the path of the traverse-rod 65 alters the length of throw of the wire-guides 40 in the manner as later more fully explained. The quadrant 135 has its lower end fastened to 8. lug 136 on the side of the casing 91 by means of a bolt 137, while its upper end is similarly held by a bolt 138 screwed into a post 139 bolted to the rearward wall of he casing 91 at 140. The bolt 138 also fastens in place a bracket 141, further secured by screws 142 to the end of the quadrant 135. Depending from the bracket 141 is a bearing 143 for the end of the traverse-rod 65.

The upper end of the arm 130 is adjustably secured in position along the quadrant 135 by means of a bolt 144 passing through a slot 145 in the quadrant and carrying a suitable clamping nut 146 on its inner end. The end of the arm 130 is beveled off and provided with an index mark 147 adapted to register with graduations spaced along the quadrant 135. The graduations are spaced progressively farther apart along the quadrant 135 in proper ratio to measure the extent of traverse of the wire-guides in proportion to the angular adjustment of the arm 130 as effected by the change in the angular path of the slide 126 from which the traverse-bar 65 is reciprocated under the impulse of the cam 90. As herein shown the scale on the quadrant 135 is numbered to designate the length of the traverse of the guides in inches, the spaces between graduations indicatingsixteenths of an inch.

The drive for the traverse-mechanism-The traverse-cam 90 is rotated from its connected gear 115 through the means of a train of gearing driven from the winding-spindle 5 which constitutes the main drive-shaft for the machine. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the spindle 5 carries a worm 150 slidable and rotatable thereon between the bearings 6 and 7 on the headstock 4. A helical spring 151 disposed between the bearing 6 and the worm 150 tends to slide the latter to the right as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4 and the right-hand end of the worm is connected to a sliding sleeve 152 by means of a tongue and slot at 153. The opposite end of the sleeve 152 is provided with ratchet teeth 154 adapted to engage with correspondingly-formedteeth on a clutch-collar 155. The clutch-collar 155 is secured fast to the spindle 5 abutting the side of its bearing 7 by means of a set-screw 156. Disposed inwardly from the toothed end of the sleeve 152 is a collar 157 secured fast thereon by a pin 158 and adapted to be engaged by a clutchlever 205, to be later described, whereby to slide the sleeve and the worm 150 against the action of the spring 151 to disengage the teeth of the clutch.

The worm 150 meshes with a worm-gear 160 keyed fast to a cross-shaft 161 at 162, see Fig. 3, and held in place by a set-screw 163. The shaft 161 is journaled in bearings 164 formed as a part of a casing 165 enclosing the worm-gear. Referring to Fig. 9 of the drawings, the shaft 161 extends through a hub or bearing 166 on an arm 167 and carries a gear 168 secured fast thereto in connection with a smaller gear 169. The smaller. gear 169 is employed to drive a registering device for counting the turns of winding in the coil units, this attachment for the machine forming the subject-matter of a separate application. The gear 168 meshes with a gear 170 which is rotatable on a stud 171 held fast in a slot in the arm 167 by means of a nut 172 on its outer end. Secured fast with the gear 170 is a smaller gear 175 arranged to mesh with the drive-gear 115 for the cam 90. The gears 170 and 175 serve as change gears, being adapted to be disconnected from the arm 167 for the substitution of other gears of different size whereby to change the ratio of the drive between the spindle 5 and the cam 90 to regulate the rate of traverse of the wire-guides in accordance with the thickness or diameter of the conductor being wound. For this purpose the arm 167 is adjustable about the axis of the shaft 161 and adapted to be secured in its adjusted position with the gears in mesh by means of a bolt 176 passing through an arcuate slot 177 in the upper end of the arm and screwed into a boss 178 on the rearward wall of the casing 91. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the worm 150 may be driven from the spindle 5 to drive through the train of gears 168, 170, 175 and 115 to rotate the cam 90.

The drive for the sheet-feeding means.It has been stated that the present machine includes sheet-feeding means for inserting paper or other insulating material between the layers of the coil and the drive for this part of the apparatus is intimately related to the drive for the traversemechanism. The sheet-feeding means, as before noted, forms the subject-matter of a separate application, but certain essential elements thereof are herein shown and described in connection with the drive therefor since the arresting means for the drive is associated with and forms a part of the present invention. Referring to Figs. 2 and 10, the sheet material, which may be paper supplied from a roll not herein shown, is fed between rollers 180 rotatively connected by gears 181 and 182 driven from a pinion 183 which, in turn, is driven from a gear 184. The gear 184 is turned under the impulse of a ratchet-mechanism indicated generally by the reference character 185 in Fig. 10. The ratchet-mechanism 185 is actuated from a link 186 connected to a lever 187 which is pivoted on a rod 188. The lever 187 carries a roller 189 at its free end adapted to bear against a cam 190 secured fast to a continuously rotated shaft 191.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 11, the shaft 191 which operates the sheet-feeding means is driven from the cam-shaft 95 through a train of gearing as next described. Fast on the inner end of the cam-shaft 95 is a gear 192 which meshes with a gear 193 joumaled on a stud 194, see Fig. 11. The stud 194 is supported at the end of a bracket 195 which is bolted to the rearward side of the bed 2 and incorporates thebearing 98 for the end of the cam-shaft 95. Fast with the gear 193 is a bevel gear 197 which meshes'with a similar bevel gear 198 on the end of a shaft 199 journaled in a hearing 200 formed as a part of the bracket 195, see Fig. 2. The shaft 199 is connected by a coupling 201 to the end of the operating shaft 191 for the sheet-feeding means. A detailed description of the sheet-feeding means is contained in the companion application hereinbefore referred to and for the purpose of an understanding of the present invention it-is sufficient that only the drivingmeans for this part of the machine be described.

The interconnected driving-means for the traverse-mechanism and sheet-feeding means are driven from the spindle 5 through the arrangement above described and to disconnect the drive for both of these mechanisms the worm 150 is declutched from the spindle through the operation of manually-controlled means as next described.

The manual control for the (Mica-Referring first to Figs. 3, 4 and 13, the clutch-lever 205, previously referred to, is pivoted on a cross-shaft 206 extending through the forward and rearward sides of the bed 2, see also Fig. 8. The upper end of the lever 205 has a convex face 209 adapted to act against the side of the collar 157 on the clutchsleeve 152 to slide the latter. The lever 205 is operated from an arm or lever 210, see Figs. 3 and 8, which is secured fast on a horizontal rock-shaft or rod 211 by means of a set-screw 212. The lever 210 reaches inwardly from the rod 211 and is provided with a shoe 213 at its end adapted to wipe against an inclined cam-face 207 on the edge of the clutch-lever 205, see Fig. 13, whereby the convex portion 209 of the latter will act against the side of the collar 157 to slide the sleeve 152 to disengage the clutch-teeth 154 from the collar 155.

Referring to Fig. 2, the rod 211 is supported in bearings 214 formed on the brackets 54, previously described, and at its outer end it carries a handled lever 215 by means of which it may be manually rocked to operate the lever 210 to throw the clutch-lever 205 to perform the declutching operation in the manner as before explained. The lever 215 is secured fast on the end of the rod or rockshaft 211 by means of a, bolt 216 extending through the sides of its split hub, see Fig. 5. The rod 211 is held from longitudinal movement in its bearings 214 by the hub of the lever 215 abutting the end of the bearing on the outer bracket 54 and a collar 217 abutting the end of the bearing on the inner bracket 54. The rod or rock-shaft 211 serves as the operating element for the cutting-off knives which sever the paper tube on which the coils are wound and the strips of insulating material inserted thereinto whereby to separate the coils into individual units.

The severing means for the cozZ-um'ts.-The rock-shaft 211 carries a plurality of arms 218, at the ends of which are mounted the circular knives 220 for cutting through the paper between the coil units, see Figs. 2 and 5. The arms 218 are secured fast on the rock-shaft 211 by means of bolts 219 passing through their split hubs to clamp the latter in binding engagement with the shaft, and by loosening the bolts the arms may be adjusted in lateral relationship to set them in proper position to cut the coil units apart at points intermediate the ends thereof. The diskshaped knives 220 have beveled peripheries ground to sharp edges and are mounted on the ends of the arms 218 by means of bolts 221. By loosening the bolts 221 the knives 220 may be turned on their axes to present fresh cutting edges when a part thereof becomes dulled and, when necessary, the knives may be removed for resharpening. It is to be observed that when the handled lever 215 is rocked toward the front of the machine the lever 210 at the inner end of the rockshaft 211 will immediately be brought into action against the cam-shaped edge 206 of the clutchlever 205 to rock the latter to declutch the worm 150 from the winding-spindle 5 to arrest the drive for the traverse-mechanism and the sheet-feeding means of the machine. Immediately thereafter the continued forward movement of the lever 215 will raise the knives 220 to bring their edges against the strips of insulation connecting the coils to cut therethrough and, finally, to sever the tube on which the coils are wound to separate them into units; it being understood that during this operation the rotation of the winding-spindle 5 and thereby the winding-arbor 20 is continued to effect a complete severance of the paper and tube. After the separation of the coil units is completed the lever 215 is released, whereupon the weight of the arms 218 and the knives 220 will rock the lever back into first position. Upon the return of the lever 215 to first position the lower rounded end of the lever 210 strikes against the top of one of the ways 34 on the bed 2 to act as a stop to retain the parts in first position with the knives 220 out of range of the winding-mechanism of the machine.

The startingand stopping-means of the machine.It has been stated that the machine may be driven from an electric motor connected by a belt to the driving-pulley 10 on the spindle 5, and as a convenient means for controlling the starting and stopping of the machine a switch is provided in the motor circuit. The controlswitch 225 may be of any suitable type and as shown in enlarged scale in Fig. 12 it comprises a box or casing 226 having two pairs of spaced contact terminals 227 and 228 projecting inwardly from its sides. Slidably mounted in the switch-box 226 is a vertical rod or plunger 230, preferably constructed of dielectric material and provided with contact-elements 231 in the form of metal rings sprung into grooves encircling the periphery of the plunger. The two contactelements 231 are bridged across the terminals 227 and 228 when the plunger 230 is raised to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 12 of the drawings, the terminals having a slight spring action to adapt them to make a firm contact with the rings 231. A helical spring 232 coiled around the lower end of the plunger 230 acts against a washer 233 pinned to the plunger at 234 to force the latter downwardly to move the contact-rings 231 beyond the range of the terminals 227 and 228, see Fig. 4, whereby to open the circuit through the switch. The terminals 227 and 228 are connected in circuit with the electric motor, not shown, by means of wires 229, whereby when the switch is closed as shown in Fig. 3 current will be supplied to the motor to operate it to drive the machine. A cover 235 is fastened to the front of the switch-box 226 by screws 236 to protect the contacts, see Fig. 3. The upper pair of screws 236 arescrewed into the front of the headstock 4 to fasten the switch-box in place thereon.

The switch 225 is operated manually to start the machine, and either manually or under the control of the revolution counter, previously referred to, to arrest the operation of the machine. Connected to slide the plunger 230 is a handlever 240 pivoted on a pin or stud 241 held in a lug 242 projecting from the end of the headstock 4, see Figs. 3 and 4. The lever 240 has a handle 243, conveniently located at the front of the headstock 4, and an arm 244 reaching laterally outward in position adjacent the upper end of the switch-plunger 230. Referring to Figs. 12 and 14, the end of the arm 244 of the lever 240 is provided with a slotted lug 245 embracing the sides of the plunger 230, and a collar 246 pinned to the end of the plunger 230 engagesthe forked lug to connect the plunger with the lever. Through this connection the rocking of the lever 240 in a clockwise direction causes the plunger 230 to be raised to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 12 to close the switch 225.

The lever 240 is held in raised position to maintain the switch closed by means of a detent-rod or bar 250 slidably mounted in slotted bearings 251 and 252 projecting from the rearward wall of the gear casing 91, see Figs. 2, 8 and 9. The bearing 251 has a pin 253 extending across its slot to hold the bar 250 in place, see Fig. 8. A spring 255 is attached to the left-hand end of the bar 250 and anchored at its opposite end to a pin 256 driven into the wall of the casing 91, see Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The spring 255 tends to slide the bar 250 toward the left as viewed in these latter figures and a cross-pin 257 extending through the bar is adapted to strike against its bearing 252 to limit its sliding movement.

At its opposite end the bar 250 has a slot 258 in its rearward side which is adapted to be entered by a vertical key 260 on the end of the arm 244 of the lever 240 when the bar is slid toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4 against the action of its spring 255, see also Fig. 14. A spring 261 connected to the lever 240 and anchored to the base of the headstock 4 tends to rock the lever 240 downwardly, thereby serving as an auxiliary to the spring 232 on the plunger rod 230 of the switch 225. Normally, the end of the key 260 is supported on the top of the bar 250 when the latter'is slid to the left as shown in Fig. 3, whereby to maintain the lever 240 raised and the switch 225 closed.

The means for sliding the bar 250 to release the lever 240 may consist of a lever 265, see Figs. 3, 4 and 8, which is pivoted on a stud 266 held in a boss 267 on the rearward wall of the casing 91. The lower arm of the lever 265 is formed at its ends with convex faces adapted to engage the sides of a slot 269 in the bar 250. The upper arm of the lever 265 extends forwardly and terminates in a projection 270 which may be used as a handle or finger rest in rocking the lever 265, to slide the rod 250. In accordance with a preferred arrangement of the machine the projection 270 is engaged by an automatic trip-device operated from the revolution counter. to rock the lever 265 to shift the detent-bar 250 and thereby release the lever 240 to stop the machine, these connections being described in a companion application relating to the counter or registering device.

Braking means for the spindle.To effect prompt stopping of the spindle 5 a brake is provided for engagement with the handwheel 15. Referring to Fig. 7 of the drawings, a brake-lever 275 is pivoted at 276 to the end of the headstock 4, being provided with an arcuate shaped portion having a friction brake-lining 277 inserted in its face. On the lever 240 is a toe or extension 278 carrying an adjustable set-screw 279, the end of which is adapted to engage the underside of the brake-lever 275 to force its brake-lining 277 against the periphery of the handwheel 15. This action takes place when the lever 240 is depressed under the action of its spring 261 upon the release of its detent-key 260.

Arbor-holder.-As a convenient appliance for holding the arbor 20 before it is applied to the chucks of the machine an arm 280 reaches upwardly from the end of the fixed rod 51 held in the brackets 54, see Fig. 1, a hub 281 at the upper end of the arm 280 is bored at 282 to receive the end of the arbor and notched to take its crosspin 21. During the operation of the machine the end of a spare arbor is placed in the bore 282 and immediately the winding is completed, the coils cut apart and the first arbor removed, the new one may be removed from the holder and placed in the chucks whereby to economize in the time of the operator.

Method of operation of the complete machine.-The machine is prepared for operation by placing a suitable paper or fiber tube :1: on the arbor 20 and applying the end of the latter to the 29. The end of the arbor 20 is placed in the socketed end of the chuck 25 to force the latter back so that the opposite end of the arbor may then be seated in the chuck 17 on the end of the spindle 5 and its cross-pin 21 engaged with the notches thereof to effect a driving connection between the spindle and the arbor. The chuck 25 will be forced back by its spring 29 to hold the end of the arbor in the opposite chuck 17 and the screw 32 is then tightened to secure the movable chuck 25 in fixed position in its bearing 27 with the end of the arbor held rotatably therein; it being understood that the tailstock 30 is initially adjusted in position along its ways 34 to locate the chuck 25 at a distance from the chuck 17 in accordance with the length of the arbor being used.

The traverse-mechanism of the machine is adjusted to give an extent of throw to the individual wire-guides 40 in accordance with the length of coil units tobe wound and the guides 40 are set in position along the rod 41 to provide for winding the several coil units with their ends spaced slightly apart.

The adjustment in the length of the traverse of the wire-guides 40 is accomplished by loosening the bolt 144 in the slot 145 of the quadrant 135 whereby to permit the arm 130 to be moved on its pivot to index it with the scale on the quadrant in accordance with the length of coil desired. It will be apparent that with the arm 130 set at zero on the quadrant 135 no longitudinal movement will be imparted to the traverse-rod 65 by the cam 90; the slide 126 operated from the cam being simply caused to ride up and down on the arm 130. As the arm 130 is turned in a clockwise direction along the quadrant 135 the trackway for the slide 126 is inclined to the vertical and the degree of its inclination determines the extent of motion imparted to the cross-arm 120 through the travel of the roller 124, see Fig.

'6, in the groove 123 of the'cross-arm. It will be noted that the graduations on the quadrant 135 have a variable spacing, the spaces between graduations being progressively greater from zero on. This is due' to the fact that the angle of inclination of the arm 130 must be altered in increasing ratio as the arm recedes from the vertical to efiect a fixed ratio of increase in the length of traverse of the wire-guides. After the arm 130 has been adjusted along the scale to set the traverse-mechanism to give the desired length of throw to the wire-guides it is clamped against the quadrant by tightening the bolt 144.-

A supply of wire is provided for the machine by mounting spools, not herein shown, in convenient positions above the winding-arbor. The strands of wire are drawn off from the spools under the control of devices for regulating their rotation to apply the proper tension to the wire, and the ends of the strands are attached to the tube on the arbor 20 in proper position to start the wind- A roll of sheet material such as paper is also supplied for delivery to the sheet-feeding means with the forward edge of the strip or sheet passed between the feed-rollers 180 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 10.

It has been stated that the pulley 10 is connccted to be driven by a belt from an electric motor, not shown, and assuming that the parts of the control-mechanism of the machine are in the positions illustrated in Fig. 4 the starting opera-' tion is carried out as next explained. When the machine is at rest the detent-slideor bar 250 is in the position shown in Fig. 4 with the key 260 on the lever 240 entered in the slot 258 on the rearward side of the bar. The lever 240 is thus held depressed by its spring 261 with the brake 275 applied to the hand-wheel 15. With the parts in this position the switch-plunger 230 is depressed under the action of its spring 232 with the contact-rings 231 removed from across the terminals 227 and 228.

To start the machine the operator grasps the handle 243 and rocks it in a clockwise direction to raise the arm 244 of the lever 240. Under this action the key 260 on the arm 244 of the lever 240 is raised out of the slot 258 in the detent-bar 250 and the latter is slid to the left by the force of its spring 255 whereby the right-hand end of the bar will slide in under the key 260 to maintain the lever 240 in elevated position. This movement of the lever 240 releases the brake 275 from the handwheel 15 and simultaneously raises the switch-rod or plunger 230 through its connection by the lug 245 and collar 246 with the arm 244 of the lever. As the switch-plunger 230 is raised the contact-rings 231 are brought into po-' sition across the terminals 227 and 228 to close the electrical circuit whereby the motor is energized to drive the pulley 10 to rotate the spindle 5. The rotation of the spindle 5 is transmitted to the arbor 20 to wind the strands of wire 10 thereon as they feed around the pulleys 45 on the guidemembers 42. As the winding-arbor 20 is started to rotate the traversing-mechanism is driven from the spindle 5 through the train of gearing comprising the worm 150, worm-wheel 160 and gears 168, 170, 175 and 115. The gear 115 drives the shaft 95 and the cam 90; the ratio of speed between the cam and the spindle 5 being regulated by a proper selection of the change-gears 168, 170 and 1'75 whereby to effect a traverse of the wire to position the turns in close association. By substituting different combinations of changegears the ratio of the traverse to the spindle speed may be varied for wire of different sizes.

As the cam is rotated in the manner as above explained the engagement of its groove 100 with the roller or bowl 127, see Fig. 6, causes the slide 126 to oscillate up and down on its trackway on the arm 130. The oscillating movement of the slide 126 is transmitted through the stud 125 and roller 124 to impart a lateral reciprocatory motion to the arm 120 and thereby the traverse-rod 65; the extent ofthe traverse being regulated in the manner as previously explained. The traverserod 65 carries the hinged arm composed of the plates 60 and 48, on the latter of which is supported the rod 41 to which the guide-members 42 are -previously referred to.

secured. The guides 40 will therefore be reciprocated directly from the traverse-rod with an equal extent of motion. The rate of feed or traverse of the guides 40 is relatively slow in comparison to the speed of the winding-spindle 5 so that the strands of wire w will be fed onto the tube a: on the arbor 20 to lay the turns in close formation in the nature of a spool wind. As each layer of turns of winding is completed by the traverse of the guides 40 in one direction a sheet of paper or other insulating material is wrapped around the coil through the operation of the sheet-feeding means and the paper out off to the proper length; this part of the winding operation being described in my companion application previously referred to.

At the start of the winding the lower guidepulleys 45 of the guides 40 are adjusted to position in close proximity to the surface on which the winding is to be performed but without contact therewith. This adjustment is effected by turning the screw 72 at the end of the upper arm 71 of the lever to raise or lower the plate 60 which forms a part of the guide-arm or support for the guide-members 42. After this adjustment has once been made no further setting of the guides is necessary and as the winding builds up on the tube a: on the arbor 20 the guides are caused to recede from the axis of the latter to maintain a clearance between the guide-pulleys 45 and the surface of the winding so that there will be no rubbing or scraping action on the wire in the coils being wound. This requirement is quite essential in order that the insulation on the wire, usually a coating of enamel, may not be fractured or injured to reduce or destroy its dielectric effect. The control of the movement of the thread-guides away from the axis of the coils is accomplished in the manner as next explained.

Each time the traverse-bar 65 is reciprocated toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, the ratchetwheel 80 carried by the crosshead 50 is moved into position to engage the relatively fixed pawl 81 with its teeth. The pawl 81 is initially adjusted in position to continue in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet for an interval sufficient to turn the wheel 80 and its screw to an extent which will cause the wire-guides 40 to be lifted away from the coils a distance substantially equal to two thicknesses of the wire being wound. The turning of the screw 75, as previously explained, causes its end to act against the lower arm of the lever 70 to rock the latter to raise its arm 71 and thereby, through the screw 72, to lift the guide-arm 60, 48, this operation continuing intermittently throughout the winding of the coils. The wire-guides 40 are thus maintained in close proximity to the surface on which the winding is being performed without contact thereon.

The winding proceeds in the manner as above explained with one or more wraps of insulating material inserted between the overlying layers of the coils. Upon completion of the coils to the proper size, or in accordance with a predetermined number of turns of the wire, the operation of the machine is arrested in the manner as next explained.

The machine may be stopped manually by throwing the lever 265, or through the actuation of this lever by the revolution counter or register When the winding has reached a point where the predetermined number of turns have been applied to the coils the lever 265 is rocked in a counterclockwise direc.

tion, as viewed in Fig. 3, to cause it to shift the detent-bar 250 to the right. As the bar 250 is slid into the position illustrated in Fig. 4 the key 260 on the arm 244 of the lever 240 is released from the top of the bar and permitted to enter the slot 258 on its rearward side. This rocking movement of the lever 240 under the tension of the spring 261 allows the switch-plunger 230 to be slid downwardly by its spring 232 to remove the contacts 231 from the terminals 227 and 228 whereby to interrupt the circuit through the switch 225. The opening of the circuit interrupts the flow of current to the motor to thereby arrest the drive of the pulley 10 and spindle 5. As the .drive is arrested in this manner the arm 278 on the lever 240 is rocked upwardly to apply the brake 275 to the handwheel 15 to prevent overrunning of the winding-spindle 5 and the arbor 20 connected thereto.

As the machine comes to rest the operator severs the wire strands 10 leading through the guides 40 and fastens the severed ends of the wire in the coils in any suitable manner, for example by holding them with a strip of adhesive. To separate the individual coil units in the series the cuttingoff operation is pen-formed in the manner as next explained. With the wire strands disconnected from the coils the operator starts the machine again by pressing the handle 243 of the lever 240 to the right as viewed in Fig. 3. This raises the key 260 out of the slot 258 in the detent-bar 250 allowing the latter to he slid to the left to cause its end to maintain the lever 240 in its raised position. Meanwhile, the plunger or switch-rod 230 is drawn upwardly to connect the terminals 227 and 228 in the switch 225 whereby to once more supply current to the motor to cause it to drive the whole machine.

As'the spindle 5 is again started to rotate the operator grasps the hand-lever 215 and draws it forwardly, thereby causing the lever 210 on the inner end of the rock-shaft 211 to wipe across the cam-face 207 on the clutch-lever 205 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 13. Under this action of the lever 210 the lever 205 is engaged against the side of the clutch-collar 157 to slide the sleeve 152 and worm 150 on the spindle 5 against the tension of the spring 151. The sliding movement of the sleeve 152 disengages the teeth 154 from the teeth on the clutch-collar 155 and in this manner the worm 150 is disconnected from the spindle 5 so that the latter will be rotated without driving the worm-wheel 160 and thereby the train of gearing connected with the cam 90 and shaft 95.

Upon the declutching of the worm 150 from the spindle 5 the drive for the cam 90 is disconnected and thus the traverse-mechanism is caused to cease operations. Likewise, the drive through the shaft 95 and train of gearing 192, 193, 197 and 198 is disconnected so that the shaft 191 which operates the sheet-feeding means is brought to rest. Stated briefly, the operation of the trav-, erse-mechanism and the sheet-feeding device may bearrested immediately the spindle commences to turn at the second starting of the machine and thus only the winding-arbor 20 is driven during the operation of cutting apart the coils.

The forward movement of the lever 215, besides serving to actuate the lever 210 to disconnect the drive as above explained, also acts to raise the knives or cutters 220 toward the winding-arbor 20. As the edges of the cutters 220 are brought against the sheet insulation extending between the coils, under manual pressure on the lever 215,

traversing-mechanism and the paper feed so as to avoid interference with the wire-guides and unnecessary feeding of the insulating material. When the coils have been but apart in the manner as above explained the motor-drive is again arrested by moving the lever 265 in the manner as previously explained. The arbor 20 is then removed from the machine by releasing the spring pressed chuck 25 in its bearing 27 to allow it to be displaced with respect to the fixed chuck 17 whereby to permit removal of the ends of the arbor therefrom. After the completed coils have been removed the spare arbor held in the holder 280 is applied to the chucks 17 and 25 and the machine started again in the manner as first explained.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the present invention provides a highly automatic and efficient coil-winding machine having a high productive capacity for winding coils either with or without insulation material between the layers of the turns therein.

Certain features of the present machine may be applied to use on other types of winding machines, particularly the automatic positive control of the movement of the guides away from the axis of the winding-spindle or arbor concurrently with the growth in diameter in the winding. Moreover, various alterations and modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the winding mechanism, the coil-severing means and other parts of the machine and in the manner of their application to use without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself to the exact construction and arrangement of the invention as herein shown and described, or to the method of its application to use as illustrated, I claim:

1. In a coil-winding machine, the combination of an arbor for supporting a plurality of coils, means for guiding strands of wire to wind them on the arbor, means for effecting relative reciprocation between the arbor and strand-guiding means, means for rotating the arbor, means for operating the reciprocating-means, severing means for cutting the coils apart upon completion of the winding, manually-operable means for actuating the severing-means, and means actuated from the manually-operable means to arrest the operation of the reciprocating-means without arresting the rotation of the winding-spindle while the coils are being cut apart.

2. In a winding machine, the combination of an arbor for supporting a plurality of coil windings, guiding-means for traversing the wire axially of the arbor, means for effecting a relative reciprocation between the winding-arbor and guiding-means, a plurality of knives adapted to be thrown into position to cut the coils apart at the completion of the winding, and means operated from the actuation of the knives to arrest the operation of the reciprocating-means without ar-. resting the rotation of the winding-arbor.

3. In a winding machine, the combination of an arbor for supporting a plurality of coil units, means for traversing wire axially of the arbor to form the coil windings, means for rotating the arbor, means for driving the traversing-means, a plurality of knives adapted to be moved into position to separate the coils between their ends, 1

manually-operable means for actuating the knives, and means actuated from said manuallyoperable means to disconnect the drive for the traversing-means without arresting the drive for the winding-arbor.

. 4. In a winding machine, the combination of a winding-spindle, an arbor driven from the spindle and adapted to support a plurality of coil units, means for traversing the wire axially of the arbor, means connecting the winding-spindle to drive the traversing-means, means for feeding sheet insulation to the coils during the winding operation, means for driving the sheet-feeding means from the traversing-means, severing means for cutting the coils apart after the completion of the winding operation, and means operated therefrom to disconnect the drive for the traversing-means and sheet-feeding means without arresting the rotation of the arbor.

5. In a winding machine, the combination of a winding-spindle, an arbor connected to be driven from the spindle and adapted to support a plurality of coil units, means for traversing strands of wire to windcoil units on the arbor, means for feeding sheet-material into the coils during the winding, means for driving the windingspindle, means connecting the drive to operate the traversing-means and sheet-feeding means, a plurality of knives mounted to adapt them to be thrown into position to cut the coil units apart at the completion of the winding operation, a lever for operating the knives, and means operated from said lever to disconnect the drive for the traversing-means and sheet-feeding means without arresting the drive for the spindle.

- 6. In a winding machine, the combination of a winding-spindle, an arbor driven from said spindle and adapted to support a plurality of coil units, means for traversing wire axially of the arbor to wind the coil units in spaced relation thereon,

means for driving the winding-spindle, means for connecting the spindle to drive the traversingmeans, a series of knives movable into position to cut the coils apart at the completion of the winding operation, a lever for operating said knives, and means operated by the lever previous to the operation of the knives to disconnect the drive for the traversing-means without disconnecting the drive for the spindle.

7. In a winding machine, the combination of a winding-spindle, an arbor driven from said spindle and adapted to support a plurality of coil units, means for traversing wire to wind the coil units in spaced relation on the arbor, means for driving the winding-spindle, means connecting the drive to operate the traversing-means, a rockable rod, arms adjustable along said rod, knives carried by the arms to be moved into position to cut the coils apart, a lever for rocking the rod, and a second lever on the rod operative to disconnect the drive for the traversing-means before the knives are brought into operative position.

8. In a'winding machine, the combination of a winding-spindle, an arbor connected to be driven from said spindle and adapted to support a plurality of coil units, means for traversing wire axially of the arbor to wind the coil units thereon, means for driving the traversing-means from the winding-spindle, a. clutch for connecting said driving-means with the spindle, a series of knives adapted to be brought into position to cut the coils apart at the completion of the winding operation, manually-operable means for actuating the knives, and means operated therefrom to actuate the clutch to disconnect the drive for the traversing-means before the knives are brought into operative position.

9. In a winding machine, the combination of a rotatable arbor, means for guiding strand material to wind it on the arbor, means for effecting relative reciprocation between the arbor and strand-guiding means, power-operated means for rotating the arbor, means for actuating the reciprocating-means from said power-operated means, manually-operable severing means movable with respect to the arbor, and means actu- 110 ated from said last-named means to arrest the operation of the reciprocating-means while the rotation of the arbor continues.

10. In a coil-winding machine, the combination of a winding-arbor, means for rotating the 115 arbor, means for traversing strand material on the arbor to wind a series of coil units, means for inserting sheet insulation into the coils between the layers thereof, knives arranged to be thrown into position to sever the insulating ma- 12o terial between the coil units, manually-operable means for actuating the knives, and means actuated thereby for arresting the operation of the sheets-inserting means.

ARTHUR W. LE BQEUF. 

